Ethiopia, like most countries in Africa, is a multi-ethnic state. Although the
original physical differences between the major ethnic groups have been blurred
by centuries, if not millennia, of intermarriage, there remain many who are
distinct and unique.
Ethnic differences may also be observed from the great variety of languages
spoken in the country, of which there are an astonishing eighty-three, with 200
dialects. These can be broken into four main groups: Semitic, Cushitic, Omotic,
and Nilo-Saharan.
The Semitic languages of Ethiopia are related to both Hebrew and Arabic. The
Ethiopian languages of this family are derived from Ge’ez, the language of the
ancient Axumite kingdom, which was also the language of the country’s literature
prior to the mid-nineteenth century, as well as parts of most present-day church
services.
Ethiopia’s Semitic languages are today spoken mainly in the north and centre of
the country. The most important of them in the north is Tigrinya, which is used
throughout Tigray.
The principal Semitic language of the north-western and centre of the country is
Amharic, which is the language of Gondar and Gojjam, as well as much of Wollo
and Shewa. Moreover, Amharic is also the official language of administration,
and the language of much modern Ethiopian literature.
Two other Semitic languages are spoken to the south and east of Addis Ababa:
Guraginya, used by the Gurage in a cluster of areas to the south of the capital,
and Adarinya, a tongue current only within the old walled city of Harar and used
by the Adare, also known as Harrari, people.
The Cushitic languages, which are less closely related than the Semitic, are
found mainly in the south of the country. The most important tongue in this
group is Afan Oromo. It is used in a wide stretch of country, including Welega
and parts of Ilubabor in the west, Wollo in the north, Shewa and Arsi in the
centre, Bale and Sidamo in the south, and Harerge in the east.
Other Cushitic language in the area comprise Somalinya, which is spoken by the
Somali in the Ogaden to the east, as well as in the neighboring Somali Republic
and part of Djibouti, and the Sidaminya language, used in part of the Sidama
region. Cushitic languages, however, are also used in the north of the country,
namely Afarinya, spoken by the Afar of eastern Wollo and the northern half of
the Djibouti Republic; Saho, in parts of Tigray; and Agawinya, in small pockets
in different parts of western Ethiopia.
The Omotic group of languages, which comprise considerably fewer speakers than
either the Semitic or the Cushitic, are spoken the south-west of the country,
mainly in Gamo Gofa. They have been given the name in recent years because they
are spoken in the general area of the Omo River.
